If you’ve been keeping abreast with the latest trends then you’ve likely heard about the shifting shopping habits of consumers. Today’s shoppers are smarter and savvier than ever before, and they’re craving for more compelling shopping experiences.

Forward-thinking retailers are aware of this, and several of them have already taken the steps to cater more to modern shoppers. Some retailers have introduced new technologies, while others are experimenting with smaller format stores and fresh designs to make their brands more contemporary.

If you’re in the same boat and you’re looking for ways to engage today’s savvy shoppers, keep reading. Below are 3 excellent examples of retailers that are reinventing their stores to reach modern consumers. Hopefully their efforts can serve as inspiration for your own store initiatives:

Goodwill gives some of its stores a makeover

Shopping for secondhand products at Goodwill isn’t exactly hip or glamorous. Most of their stores have really plain aesthetics and bring nothing new or innovative to the customer experience.

But certain Goodwill shops are taking steps to change that. According Adweek, “Goodwill is quietly transforming a small but growing number of its stores across the country into boutiques—smaller, more intimate shops where the furniture is antique, the clothing is designer, and the space feels more like Urban Outfitters than a warehouse…”

Consider the store RARE By Goodwill in Anaheim, CA. Instead of the usual fluorescent lighting, plastic bins, and lackluster aesthetic, this particular Goodwill branch sports “an industrial-chic setting of polished concrete floors and exposed ductwork.” Merchandise is organized neatly and the place has a very artsy feel to it. Not only that, but the location also has a lounge and a reading station where customers can play the vinyl LPs they’re looking to purchase.

This particular Goodwill store sells rare, designer items at a fraction of the original price, and as with all Goodwill Orange County retail stores, 92% of every purchase will go towards helping people in need.

RARE, along with other similar Goodwill boutiques, has helped the organization tap into younger demographics, and enables them to draw in new customers who wouldn’t have walked into a Goodwill store otherwise.

Takeaway

Struggling with enticing younger consumers? Perhaps a store makeover would help. Give your store more personality by incorporating a fresh new design or layout that sets you apart from competitors.

AT&T creates more customer-centric stores

Most mobile carrier stores are product-centric. Yes, shoppers can play around with the merchandise, but they rarely get the opportunity to experience the products or see how they fit into their lifestyle.

To address this, AT&T revamped its stores to focus more on the customer experience. Its flagship store in Chicago’s famed Miracle Mile for instance, has “zones” that customers can check out. According to AT&T:

“In the Explore Zone, customers can demo the full lineup of AT&T devices. The Connected Experience Zone is designed to showcase AT&T’s connected products and services through interactive lifestyle scenarios like music, where you can check out the latest music accessories and how they work with your smartphone. Or you can learn about AT&T Digital Life. Finally, the Community Zone features “community tables” that show customers how they can pair their smartphone with the latest accessories and applications to design a solution that fits their lifestyle.”

AT&T has also armed store associates with tablets, allowing them to assist customers anywhere in store, and turn traditional over-the-counter transactions into side-by-side interactions.

Additionally, the store fosters community relationships through initiatives like Yelp Events, which give people the opportunity to mingle and check out the location and its products.

Takeaway

Enable people to experience your products. If it makes sense for your business, let them play around with the merchandise and make it easy for them to visualize how your products fit into their lives.

You could explore ways to break barriers such as cash wraps or clunky equipment that slow down customer interactions. Like AT&T, consider arming your store staff with a tablet-based POS, inventory, and customer management so they can help shoppers and ring up sales on the spot.

Hy-Vee introduces dieticians, plus in-store bars and restaurants

Supermarkets, for the most part, sell commodities. Consumers can pretty much buy the same products from other stores, which is why many groceries face the challenge of differentiating themselves and building customer loyalty.

Hy-Vee, a supermarket chain in the US, has found a way to set itself apart by adding more value to the in-store experience.

A few years ago, Hy-Vee introduced the Market Grille and Market Grille café, which allow shoppers to have a sit-down dining experience complete with wait staff and alcoholic beverages. These dining concepts don’t just give customers more reasons to stay in the store, but they also serve as additional revenue streams for the grocery chain.

In addition, Hy-Vee introduced in-store dietitians who provide shopping tours, health screenings, and other nutrition services for health-conscious customers. This initiative adds tremendous value for shoppers and gives them another reason to choose Hy-Vee instead of the competition.

Takeaway

Adding more value to the in-store experience could help you differentiate yourself from competitors selling the same merchandise. How you go about this will depend on your business, but a few ideas could be to hire in-store experts (stylists, decorators, nutritionists) or offer value-added services (ex: makeup stations inside cosmetic stores).

Your turn

Can you name other examples of retailers that have reinvented themselves to cater to modern shoppers? Let us know in the comments.

If you’ve been keeping abreast with the latest trends then you’ve likely heard about the shifting shopping habits of consumers. Today’s shoppers are smarter and savvier than ever before, and they’re craving for more compelling shopping experiences.

Forward-thinking retailers are aware of this, and several of them have already taken the steps to cater more to modern shoppers. Some retailers have introduced new technologies, while others are experimenting with smaller format stores and fresh designs to make their brands more contemporary.

If you’re in the same boat and you’re looking for ways to engage today’s savvy shoppers, keep reading. Below are 3 excellent examples of retailers that are reinventing their stores to reach modern consumers. Hopefully their efforts can serve as inspiration for your own store initiatives:

Goodwill gives some of its stores a makeover

Shopping for secondhand products at Goodwill isn’t exactly hip or glamorous. Most of their stores have really plain aesthetics and bring nothing new or innovative to the customer experience.

But certain Goodwill shops are taking steps to change that. According Adweek, “Goodwill is quietly transforming a small but growing number of its stores across the country into boutiques—smaller, more intimate shops where the furniture is antique, the clothing is designer, and the space feels more like Urban Outfitters than a warehouse…”

Consider the store RARE By Goodwill in Anaheim, CA. Instead of the usual fluorescent lighting, plastic bins, and lackluster aesthetic, this particular Goodwill branch sports “an industrial-chic setting of polished concrete floors and exposed ductwork.” Merchandise is organized neatly and the place has a very artsy feel to it. Not only that, but the location also has a lounge and a reading station where customers can play the vinyl LPs they’re looking to purchase.

This particular Goodwill store sells rare, designer items at a fraction of the original price, and as with all Goodwill Orange County retail stores, 92% of every purchase will go towards helping people in need.

RARE, along with other similar Goodwill boutiques, has helped the organization tap into younger demographics, and enables them to draw in new customers who wouldn’t have walked into a Goodwill store otherwise.

Takeaway

Struggling with enticing younger consumers? Perhaps a store makeover would help. Give your store more personality by incorporating a fresh new design or layout that sets you apart from competitors.

AT&T creates more customer-centric stores

Most mobile carrier stores are product-centric. Yes, shoppers can play around with the merchandise, but they rarely get the opportunity to experience the products or see how they fit into their lifestyle.

To address this, AT&T revamped its stores to focus more on the customer experience. Its flagship store in Chicago’s famed Miracle Mile for instance, has “zones” that customers can check out. According to AT&T:

“In the Explore Zone, customers can demo the full lineup of AT&T devices. The Connected Experience Zone is designed to showcase AT&T’s connected products and services through interactive lifestyle scenarios like music, where you can check out the latest music accessories and how they work with your smartphone. Or you can learn about AT&T Digital Life. Finally, the Community Zone features “community tables” that show customers how they can pair their smartphone with the latest accessories and applications to design a solution that fits their lifestyle.”

AT&T has also armed store associates with tablets, allowing them to assist customers anywhere in store, and turn traditional over-the-counter transactions into side-by-side interactions.

Additionally, the store fosters community relationships through initiatives like Yelp Events, which give people the opportunity to mingle and check out the location and its products.

Takeaway

Enable people to experience your products. If it makes sense for your business, let them play around with the merchandise and make it easy for them to visualize how your products fit into their lives.

You could explore ways to break barriers such as cash wraps or clunky equipment that slow down customer interactions. Like AT&T, consider arming your store staff with a tablet-based POS, inventory, and customer management so they can help shoppers and ring up sales on the spot.

Hy-Vee introduces dieticians, plus in-store bars and restaurants

Supermarkets, for the most part, sell commodities. Consumers can pretty much buy the same products from other stores, which is why many groceries face the challenge of differentiating themselves and building customer loyalty.

Hy-Vee, a supermarket chain in the US, has found a way to set itself apart by adding more value to the in-store experience.

A few years ago, Hy-Vee introduced the Market Grille and Market Grille café, which allow shoppers to have a sit-down dining experience complete with wait staff and alcoholic beverages. These dining concepts don’t just give customers more reasons to stay in the store, but they also serve as additional revenue streams for the grocery chain.

In addition, Hy-Vee introduced in-store dietitians who provide shopping tours, health screenings, and other nutrition services for health-conscious customers. This initiative adds tremendous value for shoppers and gives them another reason to choose Hy-Vee instead of the competition.

Takeaway

Adding more value to the in-store experience could help you differentiate yourself from competitors selling the same merchandise. How you go about this will depend on your business, but a few ideas could be to hire in-store experts (stylists, decorators, nutritionists) or offer value-added services (ex: makeup stations inside cosmetic stores).

Your turn

Can you name other examples of retailers that have reinvented themselves to cater to modern shoppers? Let us know in the comments.

So you’ve decided to expand to a new location… congrats! Having multiple stores will enable you to widen your brand’s reach and get in front of new customers.

But it’s important to remember that opening a new store isn’t one of those “build it and they will come” scenarios. You can’t expect customers to automatically flock to your location when you open your doors. You need to do the legwork to spread the word and generate foot traffic.

To help you do that, below are some ideas on how you can drive word of mouth and traffic for your new branch. Check them out:

Talk up your new location even before it opens

You need to build up hype even if your new store is still in the works. Talk up your store offline, on your website, and via social media to raise awareness and keep your brand top of mind.

Here are a few things you can do:

In-store

If you’re opening a store that’s not too far from your existing shop, you could try to talk up your new location to existing customers. Have your associates casually mention it (when appropriate) so people are aware of the new branch.

If you’re running any promotions around your grand opening, be sure to give people a heads up by mentioning it in-store or by putting flyers inside their shopping bags when they’ve made a purchase.

Get creative and try to incorporate your promotions into other elements of your existing locations. Stacked restaurant, for example, promotes its upcoming branch by putting the announcement on its coasters.

Social media

Post updates and photos of your soon-to-open store on social sites so your fans and followers know what’s up. Why not publish behind-the-scenes posts and give people a peek of what’s in store?

One retailer that did this well is Nasty Gal. During the weeks and days leading up to the opening of their first brick-and-mortar store, founder Sophia Amoruso posted several Instagram photos of the store to build up hype.

Email

Send out a special email announcement to give subscribers a heads up that you’re setting up shop in a new location. Just make sure that you’re only sending these messages to relevant subscribers. Avoid sending these announcements to subscribers who don’t live around your new shop.

Fortunately, sending out geo-targeted emails is fairly simple if you have the right data. If you collect information on where your customers live, you can easily sort them using your CRM or email marketing solution, and then set up the campaign accordingly.

Make a splash on opening day

Your grand opening should be a significant event, so invest the time to plan it. What’s your budget? What type of theme will your event have? Aside from purchasing stuff, what other activities can guests do at the event? These are just some of the questions you should answer when cooking up ideas for your grand opening.

There are plenty of logistics involved here, so you may want to create checklists and timelines to ensure that things go on without a hitch. Some of the things you should include:

Encourage shoppers to spread the word

Boost word of mouth by encouraging your customers to help spread the word. Start with your most loyal patrons. Consider giving them incentives (such as invite-only events) and entice them to talk up your brand to their friends and followers.

Also remind in-store guests to pin, post, and share photos of your store and merchandise online. Leave hints such as hashtag stickers around your store, to subtly promote social shares.

New York & Company, for example, has hashtag stickers in its dressing rooms to encourage people to post images of their outfits on Instagram.

Meanwhile, Snowflakes, a dessert store in California, has special Instagram placemats that people can use when taking photos of their scrumptious-looking orders.

Get some press coverage

Try to get some press coverage around your new store opening. Your best bet here would be to get in touch with local media outlets and tell them that you’re opening up a new store in the area. Why not invite them to your grand opening, or if you can, give them an early look at what you have planned.

Having some trouble grabbing the attention of the press? You may want to rethink your pitch. Perhaps the plain “new store” angle isn’t enough. If this is the case, you need to come up with a compelling story to pique the media’s interest.

If you have an interesting story behind your business, consider sharing it. You could also emphasize all the great things that your store is bringing to the community. Are you creating jobs and reinvigorating the town? Make sure the media knows about it.

Additionally, doing something bold at your grand opening could help you get the coverage you need. If you have any stunts planned, or if a celebrity is attending your grand opening, see to it that the media is aware of what you have in store, so they can give you the spotlight you deserve.

Increase online visibility

Cover all your bases when it comes to online directories, to ensure that people can find you on the web.

Start with Google, Yelp, and Facebook. These websites get a lot of search engine love, which is why you should complete your business profiles on these sites as soon as you have your new location up and running.

Add as many details as possible, including store hours and parking information, and include photos of your store.

Aside from getting listed in online directories, consider investing in SEO or search marketing for your site or listing. A lot of shoppers conduct online searches to find and discover local establishments, so getting your store in front of these people can boost your traffic in-store and online.

Bottom line

Opening a new store doesn’t guarantee foot traffic. As we mentioned in this article, you need to put in a lot of work to drive awareness and visits to your new location. So chuck that “build it and they will come” attitude out the window, and start putting the ideas above to action.

Got other tips on generating buzz around a new retail location? Share them in the comments.

Recommended reading

Looking for more tips and insights on running multiple stores? Check out the following articles:

So you’ve decided to expand to a new location… congrats! Having multiple stores will enable you to widen your brand’s reach and get in front of new customers.

But it’s important to remember that opening a new store isn’t one of those “build it and they will come” scenarios. You can’t expect customers to automatically flock to your location when you open your doors. You need to do the legwork to spread the word and generate foot traffic.

To help you do that, below are some ideas on how you can drive word of mouth and traffic for your new branch. Check them out:

Talk up your new location even before it opens

You need to build up hype even if your new store is still in the works. Talk up your store offline, on your website, and via social media to raise awareness and keep your brand top of mind.

Here are a few things you can do:

In-store

If you’re opening a store that’s not too far from your existing shop, you could try to talk up your new location to existing customers. Have your associates casually mention it (when appropriate) so people are aware of the new branch.

If you’re running any promotions around your grand opening, be sure to give people a heads up by mentioning it in-store or by putting flyers inside their shopping bags when they’ve made a purchase.

Get creative and try to incorporate your promotions into other elements of your existing locations. Stacked restaurant, for example, promotes its upcoming branch by putting the announcement on its coasters.

Social media

Post updates and photos of your soon-to-open store on social sites so your fans and followers know what’s up. Why not publish behind-the-scenes posts and give people a peek of what’s in store?

One retailer that did this well is Nasty Gal. During the weeks and days leading up to the opening of their first brick-and-mortar store, founder Sophia Amoruso posted several Instagram photos of the store to build up hype.

Email

Send out a special email announcement to give subscribers a heads up that you’re setting up shop in a new location. Just make sure that you’re only sending these messages to relevant subscribers. Avoid sending these announcements to subscribers who don’t live around your new shop.

Fortunately, sending out geo-targeted emails is fairly simple if you have the right data. If you collect information on where your customers live, you can easily sort them using your CRM or email marketing solution, and then set up the campaign accordingly.

Make a splash on opening day

Your grand opening should be a significant event, so invest the time to plan it. What’s your budget? What type of theme will your event have? Aside from purchasing stuff, what other activities can guests do at the event? These are just some of the questions you should answer when cooking up ideas for your grand opening.

There are plenty of logistics involved here, so you may want to create checklists and timelines to ensure that things go on without a hitch. Some of the things you should include:

Encourage shoppers to spread the word

Boost word of mouth by encouraging your customers to help spread the word. Start with your most loyal patrons. Consider giving them incentives (such as invite-only events) and entice them to talk up your brand to their friends and followers.

Also remind in-store guests to pin, post, and share photos of your store and merchandise online. Leave hints such as hashtag stickers around your store, to subtly promote social shares.

New York & Company, for example, has hashtag stickers in its dressing rooms to encourage people to post images of their outfits on Instagram.

Meanwhile, Snowflakes, a dessert store in California, has special Instagram placemats that people can use when taking photos of their scrumptious-looking orders.

Get some press coverage

Try to get some press coverage around your new store opening. Your best bet here would be to get in touch with local media outlets and tell them that you’re opening up a new store in the area. Why not invite them to your grand opening, or if you can, give them an early look at what you have planned.

Having some trouble grabbing the attention of the press? You may want to rethink your pitch. Perhaps the plain “new store” angle isn’t enough. If this is the case, you need to come up with a compelling story to pique the media’s interest.

If you have an interesting story behind your business, consider sharing it. You could also emphasize all the great things that your store is bringing to the community. Are you creating jobs and reinvigorating the town? Make sure the media knows about it.

Additionally, doing something bold at your grand opening could help you get the coverage you need. If you have any stunts planned, or if a celebrity is attending your grand opening, see to it that the media is aware of what you have in store, so they can give you the spotlight you deserve.

Increase online visibility

Cover all your bases when it comes to online directories, to ensure that people can find you on the web.

Start with Google, Yelp, and Facebook. These websites get a lot of search engine love, which is why you should complete your business profiles on these sites as soon as you have your new location up and running.

Add as many details as possible, including store hours and parking information, and include photos of your store.

Aside from getting listed in online directories, consider investing in SEO or search marketing for your site or listing. A lot of shoppers conduct online searches to find and discover local establishments, so getting your store in front of these people can boost your traffic in-store and online.

Bottom line

Opening a new store doesn’t guarantee foot traffic. As we mentioned in this article, you need to put in a lot of work to drive awareness and visits to your new location. So chuck that “build it and they will come” attitude out the window, and start putting the ideas above to action.

Got other tips on generating buzz around a new retail location? Share them in the comments.

Recommended reading

Looking for more tips and insights on running multiple stores? Check out the following articles:

So you’ve decided to expand to a new location… congrats! Having multiple stores will enable you to widen your brand’s reach and get in front of new customers.

But it’s important to remember that opening a new store isn’t one of those “build it and they will come” scenarios. You can’t expect customers to automatically flock to your location when you open your doors. You need to do the legwork to spread the word and generate foot traffic.

To help you do that, below are some ideas on how you can drive word of mouth and traffic for your new branch. Check them out:

Talk up your new location even before it opens

You need to build up hype even if your new store is still in the works. Talk up your store offline, on your website, and via social media to raise awareness and keep your brand top of mind.

Here are a few things you can do:

In-store

If you’re opening a store that’s not too far from your existing shop, you could try to talk up your new location to existing customers. Have your associates casually mention it (when appropriate) so people are aware of the new branch.

If you’re running any promotions around your grand opening, be sure to give people a heads up by mentioning it in-store or by putting flyers inside their shopping bags when they’ve made a purchase.

Get creative and try to incorporate your promotions into other elements of your existing locations. Stacked restaurant, for example, promotes its upcoming branch by putting the announcement on its coasters.

Social media

Post updates and photos of your soon-to-open store on social sites so your fans and followers know what’s up. Why not publish behind-the-scenes posts and give people a peek of what’s in store?

One retailer that did this well is Nasty Gal. During the weeks and days leading up to the opening of their first brick-and-mortar store, founder Sophia Amoruso posted several Instagram photos of the store to build up hype.

Email

Send out a special email announcement to give subscribers a heads up that you’re setting up shop in a new location. Just make sure that you’re only sending these messages to relevant subscribers. Avoid sending these announcements to subscribers who don’t live around your new shop.

Fortunately, sending out geo-targeted emails is fairly simple if you have the right data. If you collect information on where your customers live, you can easily sort them using your CRM or email marketing solution, and then set up the campaign accordingly.

Make a splash on opening day

Your grand opening should be a significant event, so invest the time to plan it. What’s your budget? What type of theme will your event have? Aside from purchasing stuff, what other activities can guests do at the event? These are just some of the questions you should answer when cooking up ideas for your grand opening.

There are plenty of logistics involved here, so you may want to create checklists and timelines to ensure that things go on without a hitch. Some of the things you should include:

Encourage shoppers to spread the word

Boost word of mouth by encouraging your customers to help spread the word. Start with your most loyal patrons. Consider giving them incentives (such as invite-only events) and entice them to talk up your brand to their friends and followers.

Also remind in-store guests to pin, post, and share photos of your store and merchandise online. Leave hints such as hashtag stickers around your store, to subtly promote social shares.

New York & Company, for example, has hashtag stickers in its dressing rooms to encourage people to post images of their outfits on Instagram.

Meanwhile, Snowflakes, a dessert store in California, has special Instagram placemats that people can use when taking photos of their scrumptious-looking orders.

Get some press coverage

Try to get some press coverage around your new store opening. Your best bet here would be to get in touch with local media outlets and tell them that you’re opening up a new store in the area. Why not invite them to your grand opening, or if you can, give them an early look at what you have planned.

Having some trouble grabbing the attention of the press? You may want to rethink your pitch. Perhaps the plain “new store” angle isn’t enough. If this is the case, you need to come up with a compelling story to pique the media’s interest.

If you have an interesting story behind your business, consider sharing it. You could also emphasize all the great things that your store is bringing to the community. Are you creating jobs and reinvigorating the town? Make sure the media knows about it.

Additionally, doing something bold at your grand opening could help you get the coverage you need. If you have any stunts planned, or if a celebrity is attending your grand opening, see to it that the media is aware of what you have in store, so they can give you the spotlight you deserve.

Increase online visibility

Cover all your bases when it comes to online directories, to ensure that people can find you on the web.

Start with Google, Yelp, and Facebook. These websites get a lot of search engine love, which is why you should complete your business profiles on these sites as soon as you have your new location up and running.

Add as many details as possible, including store hours and parking information, and include photos of your store.

Aside from getting listed in online directories, consider investing in SEO or search marketing for your site or listing. A lot of shoppers conduct online searches to find and discover local establishments, so getting your store in front of these people can boost your traffic in-store and online.

Bottom line

Opening a new store doesn’t guarantee foot traffic. As we mentioned in this article, you need to put in a lot of work to drive awareness and visits to your new location. So chuck that “build it and they will come” attitude out the window, and start putting the ideas above to action.

Got other tips on generating buzz around a new retail location? Share them in the comments.

Recommended reading

Looking for more tips and insights on running multiple stores? Check out the following articles:

So you’ve decided to expand to a new location… congrats! Having multiple stores will enable you to widen your brand’s reach and get in front of new customers.

But it’s important to remember that opening a new store isn’t one of those “build it and they will come” scenarios. You can’t expect customers to automatically flock to your location when you open your doors. You need to do the legwork to spread the word and generate foot traffic.

To help you do that, below are some ideas on how you can drive word of mouth and traffic for your new branch. Check them out:

Talk up your new location even before it opens

You need to build up hype even if your new store is still in the works. Talk up your store offline, on your website, and via social media to raise awareness and keep your brand top of mind.

Here are a few things you can do:

In-store

If you’re opening a store that’s not too far from your existing shop, you could try to talk up your new location to existing customers. Have your associates casually mention it (when appropriate) so people are aware of the new branch.

If you’re running any promotions around your grand opening, be sure to give people a heads up by mentioning it in-store or by putting flyers inside their shopping bags when they’ve made a purchase.

Get creative and try to incorporate your promotions into other elements of your existing locations. Stacked restaurant, for example, promotes its upcoming branch by putting the announcement on its coasters.

Social media

Post updates and photos of your soon-to-open store on social sites so your fans and followers know what’s up. Why not publish behind-the-scenes posts and give people a peek of what’s in store?

One retailer that did this well is Nasty Gal. During the weeks and days leading up to the opening of their first brick-and-mortar store, founder Sophia Amoruso posted several Instagram photos of the store to build up hype.

Email

Send out a special email announcement to give subscribers a heads up that you’re setting up shop in a new location. Just make sure that you’re only sending these messages to relevant subscribers. Avoid sending these announcements to subscribers who don’t live around your new shop.

Fortunately, sending out geo-targeted emails is fairly simple if you have the right data. If you collect information on where your customers live, you can easily sort them using your CRM or email marketing solution, and then set up the campaign accordingly.

Make a splash on opening day

Your grand opening should be a significant event, so invest the time to plan it. What’s your budget? What type of theme will your event have? Aside from purchasing stuff, what other activities can guests do at the event? These are just some of the questions you should answer when cooking up ideas for your grand opening.

There are plenty of logistics involved here, so you may want to create checklists and timelines to ensure that things go on without a hitch. Some of the things you should include:

Encourage shoppers to spread the word

Boost word of mouth by encouraging your customers to help spread the word. Start with your most loyal patrons. Consider giving them incentives (such as invite-only events) and entice them to talk up your brand to their friends and followers.

Also remind in-store guests to pin, post, and share photos of your store and merchandise online. Leave hints such as hashtag stickers around your store, to subtly promote social shares.

New York & Company, for example, has hashtag stickers in its dressing rooms to encourage people to post images of their outfits on Instagram.

Meanwhile, Snowflakes, a dessert store in California, has special Instagram placemats that people can use when taking photos of their scrumptious-looking orders.

Get some press coverage

Try to get some press coverage around your new store opening. Your best bet here would be to get in touch with local media outlets and tell them that you’re opening up a new store in the area. Why not invite them to your grand opening, or if you can, give them an early look at what you have planned.

Having some trouble grabbing the attention of the press? You may want to rethink your pitch. Perhaps the plain “new store” angle isn’t enough. If this is the case, you need to come up with a compelling story to pique the media’s interest.

If you have an interesting story behind your business, consider sharing it. You could also emphasize all the great things that your store is bringing to the community. Are you creating jobs and reinvigorating the town? Make sure the media knows about it.

Additionally, doing something bold at your grand opening could help you get the coverage you need. If you have any stunts planned, or if a celebrity is attending your grand opening, see to it that the media is aware of what you have in store, so they can give you the spotlight you deserve.

Increase online visibility

Cover all your bases when it comes to online directories, to ensure that people can find you on the web.

Start with Google, Yelp, and Facebook. These websites get a lot of search engine love, which is why you should complete your business profiles on these sites as soon as you have your new location up and running.

Add as many details as possible, including store hours and parking information, and include photos of your store.

Aside from getting listed in online directories, consider investing in SEO or search marketing for your site or listing. A lot of shoppers conduct online searches to find and discover local establishments, so getting your store in front of these people can boost your traffic in-store and online.

Bottom line

Opening a new store doesn’t guarantee foot traffic. As we mentioned in this article, you need to put in a lot of work to drive awareness and visits to your new location. So chuck that “build it and they will come” attitude out the window, and start putting the ideas above to action.

Got other tips on generating buzz around a new retail location? Share them in the comments.

Recommended reading

Looking for more tips and insights on running multiple stores? Check out the following articles:

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